Regional Magma Plumbing and emplacement mechanisms of the Faroe-Shetland Sill Complex: Implications for magma transport and petroleum systems within sedimentary basins
File(s)Schofield et al_FSSC_accepted 2015.pdf (5.63 MB)
Accepted version
Author(s)
Type
Journal Article
Abstract
The movement of magma through the shallow crust and the impact of subsurface sill complexes on the hydrocarbon systems of prospective sedimentary basins has long been an area of interest and debate. Based on 3D seismic reflection and well data, we present a regional analysis of the emplacement and magmatic plumbing system of the Palaeogene Faroe-Shetland Sill Complex (FSSC), which is intruded into the Mesozoic and Cenozoic sequences of the Faroe-Shetland Basin (FSB). Identification of magma flow directions through detailed seismic interpretation of approximately 100 sills indicates that the main magma input zones into the FSB were controlled primarily by the NE-SW basin structure that compartmentalise the FSB into its constituent sub-basins. An analysis of well data shows that potentially up to 88% of sills in the FSSC are <40 m in thickness, and thus below the vertical resolution limit of seismic data at depths at which most sills occur. This resolution limitation suggests that caution needs to be exercised when interpreting magmatic systems from seismic data alone, as a large amount of intrusive material could potentially be missed. The interaction of the FSSC with the petroleum systems of the FSB is not well understood. Given the close association between the FSSC and potential petroleum migration routes into some of the oil/gas fields (e.g. Tormore), the role the intrusions may have played in compartmentalization of basin fill needs to be taken fully into account to further unlock the future petroleum potential of the FSB.
Editor(s)
Ebinger, C
Date Issued
2015-11-19
Date Acceptance
2015-10-08
Citation
Basin Research, 2015, 29 (1), pp.41-63
ISSN
1365-2117
Publisher
Wiley
Start Page
41
End Page
63
Journal / Book Title
Basin Research
Volume
29
Issue
1
Copyright Statement
© 2015 The Authors. Basin Research © 2015 John Wiley & Sons Ltd, European Association of Geoscientists & Engineers and International Association of Sedimentologists
Sponsor
Statoil ASA
Grant Number
PO# 4502563053
Subjects
Science & Technology
Physical Sciences
Geosciences, Multidisciplinary
Geology
NE ATLANTIC MARGIN
ROCKALL TROUGH
VOLCANIC-BASIN
IGNEOUS SILLS
FORCED FOLDS
INSIGHTS
MORPHOLOGY
GEOMETRY
NORTH
PALEOCENE
04 Earth Sciences
Publication Status
Published